Environmental Health Safety Specialist

Job purpose

As an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist, the primary role is to lead and ensure the organization’s compliance with U.S. federal, state, and local environmental, health, and safety regulations and standards, including OSHA and EPA requirements. The employee will act as a subject matter expert, driving the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of EHS programs. The purpose is to safeguard the well-being of employees, visitors, and contractors, minimize workplace risks, reduce environmental impact, and promote a culture of safety and sustainability across the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities

The associate’s primary functions and responsibilities are as follows:

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of environmental, health, and safety programs in accordance with OSHA, EPA, and state regulations.
• Act as the site subject matter expert on EHS compliance, providing strategic guidance and interpretation of regulatory requirements.
• Conduct advanced environmental monitoring, analyze and interpret data trends, and prepare comprehensive technical reports with actionable recommendations.
• Plan, lead, and execute internal EHS audits, inspections, and compliance assessments; ensure timely closure of corrective and preventive actions.
• Design and deliver comprehensive EHS training programs for employees, supervisors, and leadership.
• Oversee EHS performance metrics (KPIs), analyze trends, and report findings to management with improvement plans.
• Drive a proactive safety culture by ensuring effective implementation of plant safety rules, housekeeping standards, and PPE compliance.
• Lead incident investigations, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive measures.
• Maintain and oversee Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and hazardous materials compliance programs.
• Ensure accurate and thorough documentation of all EHS activities, audits, and regulatory records.
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA standards, EPA regulations, and applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Serve as a key member of the Fire Safety Team and lead the development and maintenance of fire prevention and emergency response plans.
• Lead and coordinate emergency drills, safety inspections, and compliance training initiatives.
• Partner with workers’ compensation and HR teams on injury management, return-to-work programs, and regulatory reporting.
• Oversee and audit Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) programs and other critical safety procedures.
• Lead risk assessments and Job Safety Analyses (JSA) for operations and new processes.
• Manage contractor safety programs, including compliance verification, onboarding, and performance monitoring.
• Facilitate and co-chair the Joint Health & Safety Committee, driving engagement and continuous improvement.
• Respond to complex EHS concerns, regulatory inquiries, and compliance issues.
• Support sustainability and environmental initiatives aligned with organizational goals.
• Perform other assigned duties
• Follow Health and Safety rules and regulations.
• Must follow Good Manufacturing Practices, Food Safety, and Food Defense guidelines.
• Comply with all Company policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental/Health Science, Industrial Hygiene, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of progressive EHS experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• In-depth knowledge of OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910, 29 CFR 1926), EPA requirements, and applicable state regulations (e.g., Pennsylvania).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, with the ability to create and manage documents, spreadsheets, email communications, and presentations effectively.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional certification is strongly preferred (e.g., CSP, CHST, or OSHA-authorized trainer credentials).

Working conditions

• Always work indoors.
• Compliant with ventilation, cleanliness, space, lighting and temperature.

Physical requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Sitting involved.
• May repeat the same movement.
• Typing involved.